NEws

Jubilee Foodbank Market Harborough is calling on all parties to take urgent action to better support families and individuals struggling to make ends meet, as figures show 2025 was the busiest year in the charity’s 13-year history.

 

Jubilee Foodbank saw 1,310 referrals - the highest number ever recorded. This demand translated into unprecedented levels of support needed, locally - with:
 

• 1,877 adults helped 

• 1,442 children supported 

• 69,699 meals provided 
   

“These figures are not just statistics—they represent real people in our community who are struggling to afford to eat,” said Liz Mills, MBE, Chair of Jubilee Foodbank Market Harborough. “No one should have to rely on emergency food support to survive in one of the world’s wealthiest countries.” 

Jubilee Foodbank Market Harborough has identified many reasons for people seeking help. These include: 

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• A lack of comprehensive support for families and individuals, including accessible, in-person services
   

• Increased energy and utilities bills and council tax, which usually increase collectively annually, in April, and which continue to place enormous pressure on household budgets 
   

• Increased costs on many basic items resulting in a need for a recalculation of the true cost of living to ensure Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and the State Pension reflect real-world costs. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Cost of Living Tracker and the Commons Library offer more information
   

• An increased expectation for charities to fill gaps leading to an over reliance on food banks and other charities for universal basic needs, such as social services, mental health support, legal and financial advice, and addiction services 
   

“Food banks should not be part of the long-term safety net,” Liz Mills adds. “They were never meant to replace adequate incomes, affordable energy, and properly funded public services. Our goal is not to grow, but to become unnecessary.

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"Harborough is seen as an affluent, middle-class area, but there clearly remains a real and often hidden need for food bank support."

Jubilee Foodbank Market Harborough Board of Trustees said in a joint statement "Food insecurity can affect anyone, and sudden life changes — including job loss, relationship breakdown, ill health or mental wellbeing challenges — can push people into difficulty rapidly, and through no fault of their own. It is vital that the community continue to work together to support those who might otherwise slip through the net. 

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"People are overlooked when systems, services or even communities do not recognise someone’s need in time. In practice, this often affects people who do not meet strict eligibility criteria, who are unsure where to turn for help, or who are coping with sudden changes or crises in their lives. Others may feel overwhelmed, isolated or reluctant to seek support, meaning their need remains hidden until they reach a point of real hardship, or worse.
 

"Often someone reaching out to a food bank has had multiple compounding life events that result in them struggling to make ends meet. Illness or caring for a family member can upturn a carefully planned budget.  Furthermore, for over a decade, cuts and increased costs have led to people struggling to maintain the basics such as food, hygiene items and energy." 
 

Already receiving high demand and multiple referrals in the first weeks of 2026, Jubilee Foodbank Market Harborough will continue to support those struggling with food insecurity. Signposting to other support streams and networks available - while advocating for long-term solutions that give stability and hope to all. 

 

​February 2026